Cleveland Browns Sign Quinshon Judkins Following Resolution of Legal Issues

The Cleveland Browns officially signed second-round draft pick Quinshon Judkins on Saturday, marking the conclusion of his recent legal troubles. At just 21 years old, Judkins was the final player from the 2025 NFL Draft class to secure a contract.

Judkins had faced legal issues stemming from an arrest on July 12 for battery and misdemeanor domestic violence charges. As the 36th overall selection, he missed training camp while dealing with these complications.

Fortunately for him, those charges were dropped after investigators found inconsistencies in the victim’s account. However, it’s worth noting that he might still face disciplinary action from the NFL for violating personal conduct guidelines. An NFL spokesperson mentioned that the situation is still under review.

While Judkins is expected to finalize his deal, he won’t likely participate in the Browns’ season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. Depending on his practice performance next week, he might be ready for week two.

Interestingly, the Browns are anticipated to receive a temporary roster exemption for Judkins. This allows him to practice without needing to make immediate roster adjustments.

In the meantime, the team will rely on Jerome Ford and rookie Dylan Sampson as running backs until Judkins gets up to speed. Ford, 25, is entering his fourth season with the Browns and had a notable previous season, rushing for 565 yards and averaging a commendable 5.4 yards per attempt.

Ford also contributed to the receiving game, catching 37 passes for 225 yards last season. Sampson, who was picked in the fourth round of the recent draft, was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, which is quite an impressive achievement for the 20-year-old.

The Browns will face the Bengals at 1 PM ET at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. It should be an exciting matchup as both teams hit the field.